Tomato Potato & Leek Gratin

*This event was paid for by Tuttorosso tomatoes. I was not asked to write about the event, but chose to do so because it was a great experience. Also, this Tomato Potato & Leek Gratin recipe is too good not to share. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to share my recent experience at Empire State South in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by Tuttorosso tomatoes. A small group of bloggers/food writers were invited to attend a cooking demonstration from Chef Hugh Acheson and luncheon presentation from Tuttorosso brand tomatoes.

This Tomato Potato & Leek Gratin was the recipe Chef Acheson prepared for us and you need to make it ASAP! It’s guaranteed to steal the show on your holiday table!

Our venue for the afternoon…

We enjoyed a three course meal that included assorted pastries, baked eggs, braised salmon and this potato leek gratin. Everything was amazing.

Chef Acheson talked about the importance of fresh herbs in cooking. He also recommended tearing basil with your hands instead of cutting to prevent bruising of the leaves. He was a lot of fun and gave a really entertaining presentation. I loved his stories about his teenage girls. Since I have teens at home myself, I could totally relate!

The tomato testing was enlightening. I had no idea how much difference there would be between color, taste and texture of canned tomatoes. The Tuttorosso tomatoes won hands-down compared to the others. We saw the cans being opened, so I know it wasn’t rigged. 🙂

We judged each brand based on color, texture, juice consistency, the amount of peel left on the tomatoes and taste. I know which ones I’ll be buying, from now on, for my recipes! By the way, Tuttorosso is a part of the Red Gold brand and I was already a big fan of their product line. For more information on the brand and where to buy them, visit Tuttorossotomatoes.com.

The baked eggs and braised salmon were delicious! I love the presentation of the hot dishes in mini cast iron skillets.

Here’s the whole foodie gang together for a group shot. It was fun meeting some of these ladies that I have networked with online over the last several years.

And last, but not least my picture with the Chef. 🙂 You can catch him as a celebrity guest chef on Bravo’s Top Chef, which airs on Thursdays at 10/9C.